Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1887-07-06
A KANSAS ZEPHYR.
Il Visits Barber County and Does Som.
{ Damage.
Medicine Lodge and Sharon Both Given a
Benefit.

= Last saturday evening, july "a, at
$50 O'Clock, a young tornado visited
Barber county and did considerable
damage to weak buildings and to the
growing crops. The heavens bore a
threatning aspect for several hours,
but at this place it appeared that the
storm had gone around northwest and
southeast. This was not true, for IN
an instant, at the hour mentioned, a
was felt, and storm was here, coming
with lightning speed and terrific force
from the northwest. 1t continued
with undated fury for thirty minutes
and then the moon shown out as limo
Gently and the stars were as bright, as
if there had been no earthly disturbance
since their creation.
The INDEX at once made a round
through the city and was reioiced to
find that the damage in this city was con-
fined to several wrecked fences, Chin
neys, awnings and signs, two tin roofs
blown off and one building destroyed.
The tin roof over the Citizens Nation
al bank was torn loose and blown away,
and the west wall, near the top was
slightly Jared and knocked half inch
out of line.
The roof of the ware house and rooms
of w. w. Cook in the rear of Wheeler's
store was blown off and carried over
the opera house, and landed block
away.
A frame twO-story building in the
rear of j. c. Loyejoy's brick building,
opposite the Citizens National bank,
was blown flat to the ground.
The awnings in front of Lebrecht's,
and Updegraff & Smiths drug store,
were blown down and the fronts of the
buildings slightly damaged.
The front of Mckay & Livingston's
blacksmith shop ON First avenue was
blown out.
N. w. Young's carpenter shop,
near the bridge on Kansas avenue was
blown entirely away, part of it landing
in Mr.. Chenoweth's yard.
Several grave stones in the cemete-
~ were blown down, among them those
over the graves of Mrs. Petit and Mr..
Babin.
s. Z. Stone lost two Windmill wheels,
that at the Grand hotel and the one at
his house.
A flying timber knocked in part of
Byerley's front.
The fence surrounding Judge Stevens
livery barn was partly blown down.
A dozen or more out-houses were
blown down, and that was about all
the damage done in town.
AT SHARON.
A telegram was received here early
Sunday morning by John Singer, from
his father-in-law, l.. w. Story, of Sha-
ron, announcing that that city was
wrecked by the storm. In company
with dozen other anxious citizens, an
INDEX representative took the 10
O'Clock train and was soon at Sharon, a
beautiful little city 10 miles east of
here.
The storm struck that place about 9
O'Clock. First, gust of wind from the
southeast picked up barrels, plank and
boxes and hurled them against the
front of buildings facing east, but with
no more serious results than breaking
in a few dozen windows. A lull occur
ed, and suddenly the wind changed and
struck the town from the northwest,
and then the real damage was done.
The Badger Lumber yard and sheds
received the first attack, and lumber,
sash, doors and shingles were picked
up and dashed around as if it was paper.
The company's Office was also slightly
renched. e. G.. Phares, the resident
manager of the company, at Sharon,
was getting affairs in good shape Sun
day. Mr.. Schwartz, the general mana
ger, was there and he estimated that
the entire loss to the company, on &C
count of damage to the yards and loss
of two buildings, hereafter mentioned
would be 81 900.
The next building wrecked was also
the property of the Badger Lumber
company. 1t was purchased of G..
B. Shaw & Co., and was occupied by
Oliver Cromwell and family of wife
and five children. Miss VanSlyke, who
has millinery establishment had taken
refuge in this house. When the build
ing fell, it imprisoned the two women
and the children, but the next instant,
the roof, sides and ceilings were lifted
by the wind and the inmates stepped
out upon the ground, but only to be
dashed against the ground in a most
frlghtful manner. Miss VanSlyke was
carried down Main street several hun
dred feet. She caught on trough by
the town well, and then she and her
anchor were both picked up and land
ed on the sidewalk near the Johnson
house. Strange to say, the Cromwell
family nor Miss VanSlyke were seri-
ously hurt.
Next the wind blew down a frame
store room, the property of VIM. Gar
rison. 1t was vacant, but had former
ly been used by Cathcart, as . hard
ware store.
The heaviest loss occurred next. L.
w. Story was conducting general
store in two-story building, built by
Hubbard & Price, but now owned by
the Standard Implement Co., of Kan
sas City. This building was blown
nearly halfway over, and the tin roof
was taken off and the timbers in it
were badly cracked. The groceries and
dry goods were thrown to the floor and
drenched with the rain that followed.
A case of matches ignited and set fire
to the dry goods and a serious
confiagration was only averted
by the presence of mind of Mr..
Story, who stamped out the flames.